But this train is moving so slowly that other poor-performing charter sponsors might conclude -- with ample justification -- that they, too, have nothing to fear from state regulators, even when their schools fail to keep minimal tabs on how they spend millions of dollars of the public's money.

The state education department must correct that perception by holding hearings and speeding this process along in as many other ways as are possible.

In a statement, Ashe Executive Director Kwa David Whitaker blamed the state and said Ashe would likely "end up in extensive litigation."

Ashe's students don't need that. They do need an outstanding education, and taxpayers need an honest accounting of their money.

Last year, five of Ashe's schools -- a sixth was closed because of money troubles in 2008 -- received more than $5.5 million from the state for 700 students.

Charter schools opened in Ohio as an alternative to sinking public schools. Some have set a shining example. But a failure to police the poor performers or to make them conform with the law undercuts all charters.

Ashe has been under suspicion before. The Ohio Department of Education does not believe that Ashe should have cleared one of its schools, Marcus Garvey Academy, of cheating on last year's state achievement test. In addition, some Ashe-sponsored schools are lackluster.

Perhaps Whitaker has a reasonable explanation for all of these problems. If so, he better provide it -- and an auditable version of the schools' books -- to state investigators quickly. Otherwise, the state should give Ashe the boot.

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